When Dylan "Oz" Oswin's son is kidnapped, the high-powered producer will do anything to get him back. Desperately following an anonymous tip, he seeks help from a former child singing sensation called Syrene, only to find she's vowed never to sing again. Immune to her voice but not her charm, Oz is convinced she holds the key to his son's disappearance—and he'll stop at nothing to make her break her vow.

Only he can make her sing...

She knows the devastation her talent can bring. There's more than a child's life at stake, but Syrene cannot unleash her dangerous siren's voice upon the world, even for a man who is impossible to deny...

LURE OF SONG AND MAGIC gave a paranormal twist to a familiar contemporary romance setting: the glamor and egos of Hollywood. Though I was intrigued by Rice’s siren mythology, the romance side of things fell flat for me, if only because of the over-the-top personalities of our hero and heroine.

For someone who lives in fear of inadvertently hurting people with her siren’s voice, I found it pretty odd that that Pippa actively trains in martial arts so she can hurt people with her hands. If martial arts had any part in her “calmness and self-control regimen”, I couldn’t see how. Though her emotional breakdowns are explained away as part of her curse, I never quite understood the justification for her physically attacking anyone who got in her personal space. Luckily, our hero’s superpower is being insensitive, both emotionally and physically, so whether Pippa is lashing out with her voice or her fists Oz remains impervious. Both of these characters are painted as brilliant and arrogant Hollywood royalty, very different from us common folk, which may be why I never emotionally connected with them. It’s more likely, however, that I was turned off by their tumultuous courtship. Oz and Pippa butt heads early and often. Though Rice does do a good job of painting her leading pair as individuals who thrive on that dynamic, it was not a situation that I could relate to.

Emotionally connection aside, however, Rice’s writing is solid and the siren mythology is interesting. Enough of the story focuses on Oz’s brother Conan that the seeds for a future hero were also planted. I may have an easier time relating to a computer super-spy than a Hollywood producer, but I’ll reserve my judgment until after I get a glimpse of who Conan’s leading lady will be.

2 Responses to “Review: Lure of Song and Magic by Patricia Rice”

wow, this cover does not say 'contemporary romance with a paranormal twist'. I feel sorry for the author because the plot sounds unique and interesting, but I would never in a million years pick this up because the cover looks like a cheesy high fantasy-romance.

I know, right? For some reason the cover model reminds me of Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs… I read the eBook, never have I been so glad to swipe past a cover.

Hot Off the Press

Support All Things Urban Fantasy!

Currently, all of All Things Urban Fantasy's revenue comes from Amazon affiliate purchases. We use this revenue to keep the blog afloat. If you're a regular Amazon shopper, please consider using the link or search box and All Things Urban Fantasy will receive a percentage of your purchases. Thanks!

ATUF Rating System

Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Loved it! Buy it now & put this author on your watch list.
A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.
A few good points, but with significant flaws. Library/swap/borrow if you want.
I had to force myself to finish it. Fatally flawed on multiple levels.

Subscribe via email

About

Started in 2009, All Things Urban Fantasy is the place 'Where Para is Normal'. This your one stop for all things Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal YA, & Speculative Fiction titles. Want to know more about ATUF? Read the about page.

If you would like a book reviewed on this site please request a review. All inquires are welcome.

Received for Review

Follow ATUF

FTC Disclaimer

Though All Things Urban Fantasy bloggers will sometimes purchase books for review, please assume that most books reviewed on this site were provided by the publisher or author in return for a fair and unbiased review.
Also, please note that our links to Amazon and The Book Depository are affiliate links, returning some of the percentage of any purchases you make to All Things Urban Fantasy.